Disclaimer: The one and only Stephenie Meyers owns all things Twilight. That includes Dream Edward, lovingly featured here. The other characters in When Two Worlds Collide – Maggie, Sarah and this particular Jacob, belong to me. When Two Worlds Collide and its author (moi) are in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.
Special thanks to my pal Selita for her support, and to Flyaway Dove for helping me make better sense of my long paragraphs and all that stuff. She rocks.
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10. Two worlds collide
I blinked a few times, sure I was still dreaming. Edward was sitting in my chair, his leather jacket draped across his lap, his chest still bare. He smiled at me, and then just as I raised my hand to slap myself in the face, he spoke.
"Maggie, please don't hit yourself. There is no need. It will not have the desired effect. Do you wish me to leave?"
I laughed in spite of the situation – and my obvious insanity – but shook my head. I looked at my phone and saw that it was almost 6 p.m. and that Sarah had called me three times and sent two texts. Where are you? Everything ok? And then, We still on for tonight? Call me! I decided now was as good a time as any to ask some questions. There was no way I could call Sarah back yet, so I sent her a text with a simple "yes" reply.
"Edward, how is it that you are in my room and I'm apparently not dreaming? Where do you go when you're not with me? Are you real? And what happened before…was that real?"
He took a moment to consider all of my questions, and rose from the chair and sat at the end of my bed, keeping a bit of space between us.
"As I said before, Maggie, I am here because you need me," he said. "It seems you have a hold on me that makes me real to you in a way that is unexplained and a bit magical, pardon the term. I think I stay in the meadow when you are not with me, except it is much different – like empty space. And yes, I am real, at least to you, and am made of flesh and bone like you. Much paler flesh, of course, but flesh still. And what happened before was, as I suspect you know, quite real."
He smiled again and slowly reached up to touch my hands, which were tightly holding the blankets to my chest. I flinched when I felt his cool fingers on mine.
Why is this happening to me? Am I really losing my mind? I have got to still be dreaming! Wake up! Wake up!
He leaned over and placed a kiss on my lips and then on my forehead, and then stood up. As if he knew I couldn't process much more than this, he put his shirt back on, and then his leather jacket.
"Thank you for keeping this Maggie. It's one of my favorite jackets."
I closed my eyes and massaged my eyelids with the pads of my fingers, and said, "You're welcome, Edward. Listen, I really hate to be rude, but I need to get dressed and go out. And I need a little time to figure out what all this means."
I heard him sigh, and he replied, "Of course. As you wish. I will be here, when you need me."
I opened my eyes, and my room was empty.
Shit. Double shit. I am in serious trouble.
I flipped open my cell and called Sarah.
"Can you be here in thirty minutes," I asked.
"Sure. Is everything ok?"
I assured her everything was fine, and that I was just hungry (which wasn't a lie). I quickly dressed in jeans and a lightweight sweater, ran a brush through my bed head and pulled on my Chucks. I made my bed and attempted half-heartedly to straighten my bedroom, then gave up and ran down the stairs, just as Sarah's car pulled into my driveway. I didn't even wait for her to get out; I just bounded over my steps and threw open the passenger side door.
Slamming it closed after me, I took one glance at Sarah's befuddled expression and said, "Just drive, and I'll talk. I'm starving."
While she drove, I filled Sarah in on my latest escapade with Edward, sparing no detail, and when I got to the part on my bed she choked and had to pull over onto the shoulder.
"Are you freakin' kidding me Em? He was able to make you…climax? Then what happened?!"
Ok, now this is the part where she screams and takes off running, leaving me in her car on the side of the road.
I braced myself, and said, "And then I woke up, like I always do. Except this time, he was still in my room."
I waited. Sarah gaped at me, her mouth open and her eyes wide.
"Sarah, I swear to you, it was real. At first I thought I was still dreaming, except I remember waking up, turning on the light, and seeing him there in my chair. Sarah, he had the leather jacket on his lap. I left it in the chair. Then I looked at my phone and saw that you had called me, and I told him I needed to go somewhere, and then he was gone."
She was skeptical – to put it mildly – but I couldn't find fault in her doubt.
"Em, honey, I really don't know what to say. Are you sure you weren't still dreaming? Sometimes, I know it seems so real, but how could it be?"
I relayed to her what Edward had told me about my power over the situation, even if it was subconscious and thus far, out of my deliberate control. Some deep, recessed part of me needed something that Edward was able to satisfy, and as long as I needed him, he would exist for me.
We had reached the restaurant, and thankfully Sarah hadn't abandoned me to hail the nearest cop, or psychiatrist.
"I need a drink honey," she said. "And you need some food. Come on. Let's go inside."
Sarah beckoned our waiter over as soon as we sat down and ordered us both drinks and an appetizer. I tried a few times to add more to my story, but Sarah shushed me, insisting she needed to think this through without me adding more "crazy" to it. I sat quietly, munching on my mozzarella sticks, still hoping she wouldn't have me committed.
Finally, she said, "Ok. It's clear to me that part of this is most definitely psychological. I mean, even Fake Edward said that you need something, and so you have basically created him in your mind to fill that void, whatever it is. But it's also psychosomatic, in that it appears to create a physical manifestation – the muddy shoes, the jacket, and now Edward. I'm no shrink, but it sounds like we need to get to the root of the problem, which is, what is it that you're lacking so much that you need someone who does not exist in reality?"
Leave it to my best friend to diagnose me. Somehow, I felt better with the rationalization, even though it might have meant I'd need professional help. I laughed, a slightly hysterical sound, and started sucking down my drink. Sarah rested her hand on mine and urged me not to lose hope.
"Em, this is easy. All we need to do is find out what you're missing and we'll remedy it. If you don't need Edward, he should disappear, right?"
"Easy? Sarah, that's only half of the problem," I said, the desperation in my voice palpable. "Part of me doesn't want him to go away, no matter how destructive his presence is for me. You know what happened when I was with Jake; I want to be happy and see where things go between us, but then here's this perfect, fictional guy and I can't help but want to be with him too, even if it is just in my dreams. God, this sounds so ridiculous I want to puke. I just don't…" I didn't finish my sentence because something occurred to me, and my eyes grew wide.
"Holy shit," I whispered. "Sarah, what if what I need is…sexual? I mean, let's look at the facts. I haven't been in a serious relationship in a few years now, and I'm not exactly one for gratuitous flings. And when I dream about Edward, invariably it's hot and sexually charged."
I moaned with the epiphany, and continued.
"What if my complete lack of a personal and sex life has brought this on? I am now beyond pathetic. There is no word for this, Sarah."
I pushed my empty glass away from me and let my head land on the table with a loud thunk. Sarah said nothing at first, and then she started to laugh.
How can she laugh at a time like this? Here I am coming unglued, and she's laughing at me! Next stop-mental hospital!
"Em, honey, this is great! Don't you see? If that's the case, you're as good as cured! You need to spend more time…and I mean quality time, with Jake! Perfect!"
She clapped her hands at her perceived victory; I could only offer a weak smile.
"But Sarah, after what happened, he probably wants nothing to do with me," I exclaimed.
She dismissed my fears with a wave of her hand, and said, "Trust me. He'll call. And if he doesn't…well, I have a few tricks up my sleeve that I'd be happy to share with you. And more once you do talk to him."
Sarah winked at me, seemingly renewed and refocused on me and Jacob. We ordered our food, more drinks, and by the end of the meal I was feeling a bit better – maybe due to the full belly or maybe because of Sarah's encouragement. I was even feeling up to the shopping trip afterwards. Nothing like a little retail therapy.
As we walked through the mall, I gladly let Sarah tell me about school, her students, and the new first grade teacher Matt, whom she described as "wicked hot." We walked in and out of stores, chatting easily and trying on clothes and shoes. I was a bit more reluctant to make a purchase, mindful of the money I had not yet earned for my four book reviews. As we passed a lingerie store, however, Sarah grabbed my arm and pulled me inside.
"Ok, I'm launching phase one of Operation Seduce Jake Emerson right now," she said excitedly.
I protested but she didn't listen, picking through racks of lace, ruffles and satin and pushing items into my arms. Colors were varied: black and red, of course, and then a lovely blue-green piece of something and purple and royal blue things disguised as undergarments.
When my arms were full, she ushered me into a changing room and ordered: "Go. I want to see each one. You are not to make any decisions in there."
I tried on the first one, a lovely, short purple negligee with side slits to the waist, spaghetti straps and lace trim (and matching thong). Ok, not too bad. I could wear this. I stepped out of the room and Sarah clapped her hands in delight.
"Yes. That one is a yes. Next!"
I tried on the black one next and laughed out loud at my reflection. The lace bustier, garter and boy shorts were decidedly not my style. You'd look like a high-priced hooker with the simple addition of thigh-highs and black kitten heels…and a cigarette in a holder. I opened the door and stuck my leg out for Sarah, putting on a bit of a show and feeling ridiculous. She took one look at me and shook her head.
"Nope. Wrong color on you, but maybe in that blue-green color. Change."
Pulling the red item off the hook, I yelled out to Sarah, "There's no way I'm coming out there with this one on! It's red dental floss!"
It was one-piece, but had barely enough fabric to cover my most private parts, and was barely held together by red strings. I doubted I could even get it on without ripping it, but Sarah demanded I try and offered to come into the dressing room to see it. I managed to pull it on and called her in. She looked at me for a moment, tilting her head left and then right, and then, mercifully, told me to take it off.
"A little too slutty for you, Em."
I tried on the other items, and Sarah cast her votes for the purple slip and thong, and the bustier set in the pretty blue-green, as well as the royal blue bra and bikini set, which I liked for its color and practicality. The items were pricey but well-made, and Sarah offered to help defray the cost and bought one of them for me.
"Happy early birthday, Em," she sang as we left the store. "You – and Jake – will thank me for this."
I resolved to call him as we were leaving the mall, but couldn't find my cell phone. Damn, I must've left it at home in my haste to leave. Suddenly I couldn't wait to get home.
I thanked Sarah, kissed her cheek, and let myself out, telling her I'd call her later. I ran inside, threw my keys on the table and began the search for my cell. I finally found it on top of my comforter, and saw that I had two missed calls. Please let one be from Jake. I flipped it open and the first call was from my sister. The second was from Jacob. The time stamp on the call was ten minutes earlier.
I called my sister back and tried to chat with her about the wedding, but I was too distracted to offer much in the way of conversation. I made plans with her to have lunch the following Monday, and excused myself, feigning a headache. I paced a few times in my bedroom, scolded myself and sat down on my bed and dialed his number.
"Hey Maggie! Sorry I didn't call earlier, but I was helping my dad with his latest home improvement project, and the day flew by," Jake said. "I've been thinking about you a lot. How are you?"
His voice was so earnest and inviting, without any trace of resentment or bitterness over what had occurred, that it gave me hope and I could barely contain my relief.
"I'm great Jake, thanks," I replied. "Don't worry about it. It's been less than forty-eight hours. Besides, I was actually going to call you."
There was an awkward pause, and I wasn't sure if I should fill the space or wait for him. I decided to take the reigns.
"Um, Jake, I was wondering if you'd like…to have dinner with me, at my place, tomorrow night. I'd like to cook for you. If you'd like."
He eagerly accepted my invitation, and offered to bring over a movie.
We set the date for six o'clock, and before hanging up Jacob added, "Maggie, I'm really glad you called back."
"Me too Jake. Good night."
After closing my phone, I jumped on my bed a few times, giddy as a high school girl. He's giving me a second chance. I will not screw this up. Remembering Sarah, I sent her a quick text to let her know my plans for the next evening, and ran downstairs to plan my menu.